This blog explores the Padlet online software and how it can be used in business (and economics) lessons. I currently teach business in college and these are 5 easy ways that we use the program to support teaching and learning of our subject.
In a nutshell a Padlet is a digital portfolio where students have the freedom to visually demonstrate their research and understanding.
This can include students' own annotations and:
links to websites
voice recordings
videos
images
uploaded documents
plus lots of other widgets
Padlet will give you (and your students) 3 free Padlets so you can try some of these ideas out but eventually you may want a subscription, this is called a ‘backpack’. Potentially a useful addition to your resources at the end of the year if there is any budget left.
Padlets can also be converted into PDFs suitable for awarding bodies. It has features such as freezing so the teacher has full control of what is uploaded.
1) SANDBOX: Students can use this feature to quickly create documents with lots of links in them. It’s more flexible than the blank board option which organises the information into set templates. In contrast the sandbox has the option to just be a blank page. Students could pick a company and make a sandbox with links, images and information they have researched from the Internet.
I also use a Padlet sandbox to make mind maps – great for teaching stakeholders.
Another example is shown below with the product lifecycle sandbox that I made live as a demo. I used the '5 day calendar' template so all students had to do was put in the titles, the line, the information and some examples. They can then upload these to a shared area or I can share the screen of the student and they can explain their examples. Great for teaching application of an industry or business to a theory.
2) QUICK ROUND UP MARKING AT END OF LESSON: Students create Word or PPTs or Canva work and then upload to a Padlet link on a shared area. You can give a QR code for this too. The example below was for unit 2 T Level Business - well being topic.
3) REVISION PADLETS: Students create a Padlet on a topic for revision. They can include: images, links, videos, documents, presentations and then if you use sections they can organise it. I like to include news articles so students can read around the subject. The example below is for a Foundation Degree in business group who have exams to revise for. The sections feature of Padlet allows me to quickly organise the lessons so they can focus on the ones they need to revise.
4) INFORMATION PADLETS: Padlets are made by teachers and uploaded to shared area can be used to give information.
For example the one below is for unit 8 on the BTEC level 3 and I have a Padlet called “How to pass assignment 2” with all the information in one handy place. This is a complex assignment with lots of bits of information so content includes documents to download, help sheets, PowerPoints and more. I can also leave voice notes if I want to explain in more detail.
5) PEER MARKING: Padlets are uploaded (embedded) in a shared area and students can take a snap of their essay (or scan in on a photocopier) and then upload to the Padlet. From here you can share the marking grid or rubric and ask the students to peer mark. Obviously you have to lay out the ground rules for what kind of comments might be appropriate, for example “this essay meets Level 4 I think, it has everything to meet that level descriptor”. This can be moderated by you but its a great way to show students quality work or an exemplar with a WAGOLL 'what a good one looks like'.
I hope this has been helpful - why not try some ideas with your groups!
Sarah has been a business teacher for 25 years and a GCSE and A level Business examiner for over 20 years. She is currently teaching in an outstanding Midlands college and is also a teacher trainer and the MD of Revisionstation.
A huge thankyou to my colleague Zoe for all her ideas, help and inspiration in putting this blog together. I owe her a latte!
コメント